It’s official – everyone is dating online. When I saw the news that Brad Garrett was trying out online dating (albeit for a reality show), I realized that online dating had finally found legitimacy.

Sure, we’ve all known about it for a while now, but once a celebrity decides to go for it, then you know it’s something you should try it too.

True, Garrett isn’t the first one to give online dating a whirl, but it seems like everyone who is anyone is hopping online. What does this mean for you? It means that more people are going to try this effective form of dating, which will up your chances of finding someone of substance.

At the same time, many people might wonder if online dating is just being mocked by those who could get a date with anyone – that’s a viable thought too.

But honestly, online dating is not a joke.

• It lets you screen potential dates before you spend money on a movie and dinner.
• It lets you scope out the competition.
• It lets you be picky.
• Online dating is cheap.
• It lets you be creative with your profile.
• You can meet anyone who is into anything.
• It’s growing everyday.

Online dating used to be a way for people to stalk each other and to flirt with people they had no intention of meeting, but now, matches are made, marriages are planned, and families are the result.

Get on the bandwagon – and maybe you can date Brad in the process. Too bad it’s not Brad Pitt.

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And what happens as a result? People get turned off to online dating because they think it’s just a dangerous thing to do.

This is not the whole truth.

Yes, when you don’t meet someone in person, you do open yourself up to a higher risk of getting conned or tricked, but the same can be done when you’re meeting others in real life.

So the real question is – what can you do to protect yourself in love?

Love may be blind, but it shouldn’t be. You need to make sure you are keeping your eyes wide open as you enter into a relationship. Anything that seems off or that just doesn’t seem right should be carefully scrutinized.

And maybe we just need to make this point abundantly clear – if you’re just starting to date someone, don’t give them a large amount of money, no matter how nice they seem.

Dating is about getting to know each other, not about getting money from each other. The red flags should be flying as soon as someone asks for more money than the bar tab you have rung up.

Run away from these con artists – and online dating doesn’t have to be scary at all. But you’re the one that needs to do the running away as these thieves are always going to be around because people continue to fall for their trickery.

Don’t be the next victim.

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Consequently, a lot of people are staying off line, but are also staying single.

The idea of background checks has become a popular selling point for sites like True.com.  By screening all of their singles, members of the site feel safer knowing that they are talking to the ‘real’ person they think they are talking to.

Or are they?

There’s a lot of discussion right now as to whether these background checks are actually all that effective.  After all, thieves and con artists thwart them in other situations, why is it so difficult to believe that they can’t slip past them here too?

Some people are crying ‘foul’ for these background checks as they generally are only a cursory check that doesn’t usually spot the liars.

But with potential new legislation making background checks necessary for online dating, is this combination of events setting up the online dating system for a fall?

If this legislation is enacted, more singles might come online, thinking that online dating is safer.  But since the checks are often meaningless, this might actually increase the dangers of getting online – more people = more problems.

In the next few years, this question is going to be something that people consider before searching for love online.  For if the checks in place aren’t really helping, then what’s the benefit to them?

Happy Valentine’s Day?

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